CHARGERS INK BROWN FOR DEPTH AT RUNNING BACK SPOT

Banks works out for Bolts as a free man

For all their talk about loving the young players they had at the position, the Chargers kept looking for a veteran running back.

On Friday, they came to terms on a one-year deal with Ronnie Brown. The former first-round pick is projected to be a third-down specialist and emergency fill-in behind Ryan Mathews and Le’Ron McClain.

“It’s another guy who’s a playmaker,” Norv Turner said. “It’s another guy who’s experienced. He obviously gives us competition, gives us a guy who’s been very good in the third-down, two-minute type situations. I’m anxious to get Ronnie in here and get to work.”

Brown was the second overall pick in 2005 and ran for 1,978 yards in his first two seasons. While he is 30 years old, Brown has always been part of a two-back system and has carried more than 200 times just once since 2006. He ran 42 times for 136 and a touchdown in 2011 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He finished the 2007 and ’09 seasons on injured reserve.

Turner said he expects Brown to report for the team’s final week of OTAs on Monday.

Brown’s ability to catch passes and block make him an ideal fill-in on third down. It is expected that McClain, the starting fullback, will be the No. 2 ball carrier. But Brown will have an opportunity to earn more carries and will be available in case of injury.

The signing creates a more urgent roster competition for the final backfield spot between Curtis Brinkley, seventh-round pick Edwin Baker and undrafted rookie Michael Hayes.

The Chargers now have 91 players, one over the roster limit. They have an abundance of safeties and linebackers, and it is likely safety Nick Polk will be released after Corey Lynch was signed last week.

Banks has tryout

A month ago, Brian Banks couldn’t legally walk in a park.

On Friday afternoon, the exonerated linebacker worked out in one.

Banks tried out at Chargers Park in front of the team’s coaching staff, sprinting through drills in hopes of earning an extended NFL opportunity.

Banks, 26, left Murphy Canyon without an invite back, but he said that’s not a concern.

“Having an opportunity to walk on that field and have that workout, that’s all I can ask for,” Banks said. “The biggest thing for me ever has been to obtain and secure my freedom. I’ve already won. Regardless of what happens, I’m already rich. I’m already here.”

In 2002, he was wrongfully accused of rape and kidnapping.

A former USC football recruit at Long Beach Poly High, Banks spent more than five years in prison, and as a registered sex offender, “was not allowed to go to a park, zoo, or anywhere children could be,” upon release, his attorney Justin Brooks said.

Brooks works with the California Innocence Project at the California Western School of Law, based in downtown San Diego. CIP took the case more than a year ago, and Banks was exonerated May 24.

Since then, it’s been a whirlwind.

A good kind.

On Wednesday, Banks was on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. On Thursday, he worked out for the Seahawks. On Friday, it was the Chargers.

Next week, he’s expected to try out with the Chiefs before attending the Seahawks’ minicamp. The Redskins, 49ers and Vikings also intend to host Banks for a workout, Brooks said, while other teams around the league have shown new interest.

“Two weeks ago, I was sitting at home, just being hopeful that I could secure my freedom,” Banks said. “Now, I’ve had a flight to Seattle. I’ve been out here in San Diego. I had a chance to work out with coach (Norv) Turner. These opportunities are something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”

He said to Banks that he could see why he was a top prospect in high school. He gave constructive criticism, suggesting he develop his hip fluidity.

Turner told Banks something else.

“I told him this is going to be a real hard road for him in terms of what he has to do,” Turner said, “but I certainly wouldn’t bet against him. He said to me, this hard road for him started a long time ago. It is an amazing story.”